Drastic drop in Vietnam arms imports despite regional tensions
Robert Besser
20 Mar 2024, 12:02 GMT+10
- Vietnam’s arms imports dwindled significantly last year, marking its lowest volume since 2007, as it sought to diversify its sources away from Russia
- Despite a budget of over US$1 billion annually for arms imports, no major orders were placed in 2023, except for a naval corvette donated by India
- This decline comes amid escalating regional tensions, particularly between China and Taiwan, and frequent clashes in the South China Sea
HANOI, Vietnam: Vietnam’s arms imports dwindled significantly last year, marking its lowest volume since 2007, as it sought to diversify its sources away from Russia, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Despite a budget of over US$1 billion annually for arms imports, no major orders were placed in 2023, except for a naval corvette donated by India.
This decline comes amid escalating regional tensions, particularly between China and Taiwan, and frequent clashes in the South China Sea. However, experts warn that Vietnam’s limited modern weaponry could leave it vulnerable in a large-scale conflict.
“The disparity in conventional military power will increase in China’s favour if Vietnam continues to mark time,” remarked Carl Thayer, a senior expert on Vietnam security.
While the Vietnamese government has not commented on the slowdown, a top defense official mentioned deals struck at a military fair in December 2022, though details were not provided.
Vietnam’s negotiations with potential suppliers have been challenging, with ongoing discussions and competing offers. The country primarily requires warships, fighter jets, and drones to modernize its military capabilities. Despite efforts to bolster its own military industry, Vietnam still relies heavily on imports for large weapons systems.
Russia, historically Vietnam’s main arms provider, reduced its global exports last year, complicating procurement efforts due to U.S. sanctions. Vietnam’s shift away from Moscow began after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, culminating in its first international arms fair in 2022.
However, aside from the Indian Corvette acquisition, talks with other suppliers, such as Israel, India, the United States, and others, have yet to yield significant results. Issues over costs and integration with existing arsenals, primarily Soviet-era equipment, have hindered progress.
According to Nguyen The Phuong, a Vietnam defense expert at the University of New South Wales in Australia, Vietnam’s vulnerability persists in the absence of major purchases.
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